FInally after 4 draws there is a victory for one of the players. The game was very even all the way to about move 40. Many top players probably would have offered or accepted a draw up to around 40 or further, but Carlsen pushed on and attained victory.

The following current & former "undisputed" world chess champions were also at the top of the chess ratings list:

Fischer, Karpov, Kasparov, and Anand

That is the complete list of champions who at the time were also at the top according to the elo chess ratings too. Carlsen will join this illustrious list if he wins this match. Carlsen's current elo rating is 2870 which is nearly 100 points higher than Anand.

He turns his mind away from those phenomena, and having done so, inclines his mind to the property of deathlessness: 'This is peace, this is exquisite — the resolution of all fabrications; the relinquishment of all acquisitions; the ending of craving; dispassion; cessation; Unbinding.' (Jhana Sutta - Thanissaro Bhikkhu translation)

Yes, he is amazing! I was always pulling for Anand in past tournaments, but now I really wouldn't mind seeing Carlsen win. Anand has been champion for enough years and Carlsen might do well for the sport.

Today Carlsen played like a computer. Move after move he followed the computer's advise in a game with many deep lines, amazing. Anand was doing well, but at a certain point he started making some small mistakes which accumulated into a loss.

Back to back victories for Carlsen; rare at this level and Carlsen was playing black.

There are only 6 games left in the match. Carlsen only needs 2.5 more points to win the match, which he could do with simply 5 draws. Or he could even lose one game and draw the rest and still win the match. It looks like we will be seeing a new champion soon.

"Yes, he is amazing! I was always pulling for Anand in past tournaments, but now I really wouldn't mind seeing Carlsen win. Anand has been champion for enough years and Carlsen might do well for the sport."

See also the video posted by MP. Carlsen does soccer (football), tennis, runs on a treadmill and works out in a gym.

David it is not debatable, a friend of mind argued that it was a sport so that the local chess club could sucessful apply for sports grants. When have you ever see government give grants for games - well sport is a different matter.

dagon wrote:When have you ever see government give grants for games - well sport is a different matter.

Okay, so that is one government's opinion. I don't place that much confidence in government and politicians to decide what is or is not a sport. Chess has many characteristics of sport besides what I mentioned in the article. It can also have big paydays for the top players, just like in other sports. I believe the winner of this current tournament will get something like $2.2 million USD.

I remember hearing (back in the Cold War days) that then champion Anatoly Karpov was funded and given a million + salary by the Soviet Union and a penthouse apartment to live in.

There are also coaches, seconds, endorsements and other characteristics that you find in other sports that they have in chess too.

Magnus Carlsen wins the match!!! No need for the final 2 games since it is a best of 12 series.

Congratulations to Norway and all Carlsen fans!!

At 22 years and 11 months old he is the second youngest to win the world championship (Kasparov was 22 years and 6 months old when he won)

He joins this list of other world champion contenders who won the championship match with no losses (not counting the matches during the split era when there wasn't an undisputed champion):

Emanuel LaskerJose Raul Capablanca

And Carlsen is at the top of the ratings chart, which further puts him in a class nearly on his own. Time will tell with how many times he can now defend this title to see where he will place among the all-time greats.